I do not agree with these at all. I would go 2-3-1. A lot of the DL woes will be better just with the players already on the roster getting healthy. The OLB/pass rush is the #1 need IMO, and the OL is #2.

Pats are looking like a 12+ win team next season. I'm expecting them to be in the Super Bowl mix and with a lot of young rookies and 2nd year players with some playoff experience we'll do better in the postseason. Now lets get that CBA done so we have a next season!

Don't worry about 66' he can't seem to grasp that no GM's or Coaches write articles or post on forums so he'll never get info only from coaches and GM's. BTW he's making new names to post, how cute. The true sign of a troll multiple screen names agreeing with each otherPosted by PatsEng

Wasn't '66 sane at one time? All of a sudden it's "your not a GM" rant. I don't get it. That's what everybody does in the off season until the draft is play GM. I don't know what he's expecting. Plus, if we didn't play GM around here things would get boring really fast.

In Response to Re: STATE OF THE PATRIOTS : Wasn't '66 sane at one time? All of a sudden it's "your not a GM" rant. I don't get it. That's what everybody does in the off season until the draft is play GM. I don't know what he's expecting. Plus, if we didn't play GM around here things would get boring really fast.Posted by garytx

Gary...he's just a troll. Go to his posts, and hit the ignore button, as I have.

In Response to Re: STATE OF THE PATRIOTS : I do not agree with these at all. I would go 2-3-1. A lot of the DL woes will be better just with the players already on the roster getting healthy. The OLB/pass rush is the #1 need IMO, and the OL is #2.Posted by Cyberknot

Ty Warren hasn't been healthy now for two straight years. He can't be counted upon. Mike Wright may never be right (sorry, I couldn't resist...LOL) again after his concussion. The key to a strong 3-4 are the front 3 defensive lineman, who eat up all the blockers, so that the LBs can have a field day.

That said, since protecting Tom Brady is always job one, the OL must be addressed. Signing Logan Mankins would be key. But, with the definite threat of no football in 2011, why sign Mankins to a huge extension now? Wouldn't the Pats be better off franchising him?

Would love to see the Pats find their next Willie McGinest. But, using a high draft pick to roll dice on a DE/OLB hybrid is a major risk.

Willie McGinest type OLBRichard Seymour type DE (trade up if need be but there is good depth this year)Logan Mankins type O Guard (a bit of a joke in there haha) plus re-sign Mankins

These areas are must haves in my 'GM' opinion

Then look at:S (trade Meriweather for a 2nd rdr in 2011 and 1st rndr in 2012)DE (need more future starters than depth as both Warrens are old and Wright's councussion seems serious, plus the DE depth while good in 2010 was also banged* up)RB/WR

In Response to Re: STATE OF THE PATRIOTS : Ty Warren hasn't been healthy now for two straight years. He can't be counted upon. Mike Wright may never be right (sorry, I couldn't resist...LOL) again after his concussion. The key to a strong 3-4 are the front 3 defensive lineman, who eat up all the blockers, so that the LBs can have a field day. That said, since protecting Tom Brady is always job one, the OL must be addressed. Signing Logan Mankins would be key. But, with the definite threat of no football in 2011, why sign Mankins to a huge extension now? Wouldn't the Pats be better off franchising him? Would love to see the Pats find their next Willie McGinest. But, using a high draft pick to roll dice on a DE/OLB hybrid is a major risk. Posted by TexasPat3

Mankins has already proved he'll take ego feeding over money. Franchize him and he'll sit the first 2/3 of the season again out of spite.

This is dedicated to Patriots' fans, and those "brave" trolls who have crawled out of the woodwork after the Jets beat the Pats in the play-offs. My fellow Pats' fans, the Patriots are in great shape for next season. Armed with 6 of the top 100 picks in the upcoming draft, the Pats have reinforcements on the way: http://www.projo.com/patriots/content/Donaldson_Patriots_NFL.edc837f3.html I expect the Pats to use these picks primarily to address their defensive front 7, and their OL. The Pats need to solve the riddle of Revis Island next season. Whether that means bringing in a big-play WR, or strengthening their running attack, remains to be seen. Posted by TexasPat3

I agree. NE has three needs.

OL, defections and age, they just need to keep adding here.

OLB/DE, the mediocre pass rush showed up last season a few times. When Brady wasn't perfect, the defense had some trouble in close games. Pairing this secondary with one pass rusher will make everyone better.

WR/RB - this can't be understated. NE needs, absolutely needs, at least one playmaker. They need someone who has to be accounted for on every down, or else they will take it to the house. Yes, they did it in 2000 without one, but that was a miracle season capped by a miracle drive and a miracle kick against a superior team that was caught napping.

I don't know about a game breaker being such a huge need. Did they have this in 2003? It'd be great to add a taller, vertical threat but the offense led the league in scoring by a pretty wide margin with the smaller, quicker guys. Another point is look what happened when they did have that one guy that needed to be accounted for each play. His name was Moss and Brady eventually became fixated on him in a way that hurt the offense.

I think it's dangerous to judge needs only on the jets game. They did fine without a game breaker against Pitt, the Jets (second time), and the bears.

In Response to STATE OF THE PATRIOTS : I agree. NE has three needs. OL, defections and age, they just need to keep adding here. OLB/DE, the mediocre pass rush showed up last season a few times. When Brady wasn't perfect, the defense had some trouble in close games. Pairing this secondary with one pass rusher will make everyone better. WR/RB - this can't be understated. NE needs, absolutely needs, at least one playmaker. They need someone who has to be accounted for on every down, or else they will take it to the house. Yes, they did it in 2000 without one, but that was a miracle season capped by a miracle drive and a miracle kick against a superior team that was caught napping. Posted by zbellino